Houston Astros starter Ronel Blanco (56) after having his glove confiscated by the umpires talks with second base umpire Tripp Gibson after being thrown out of the game for having a foreign substance in his glove against the Oakland A’s in the top of the fourth inning at Minute Maid Field on Tue May 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (19-25) hung in this game until the bitter end. Pitcher Mason Miller struck out five Astros late in the game giving the Oakland offense a couple of opportunities but they just came up short. Against a team like the Houston Astros (17-25) you have strike when you get the chance and the A’s had multiple opportunities but just could not get the job done offensively. The Astros ended up walking this game off 2-1.

Game recap: Through the first three innings the A’s JP Sears allowed a double in the first inning and a single in the third inning. Houston’s Alex Bregman hit a home run in the second inning, a solo shot, for the only Houston run through three innings giving the Astros a 1-0 lead.

Sears was keeping this game competitive. Oakland had the bases loaded in the first inning but came away empty something they have struggled with this season; leaving far too many runners stranded. The A’s singled in the 2nd inning and doubled in the third leaving more runners stranded.

JP Sears went five innings before being relieved by Austin Adams. He allowed five hits but only the one home run with two strikeouts. He had a good day on the mound and he kept Oakland very much in this game. The A’s were running out of time and after an uneventful seventh inning Oakland had a couple of innings to either tie or take the lead in the game. This remained anybody’s game.

Oakland’s Luca Erceg took over on the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. He threw back-to-back strikeouts coupled with a Dubon line out and the side was retired. The Astros would face the top of the Oakland lineup in the eighth inning.

It was a productive eighth inning for Abraham Toro who doubled and Brent Rooker who singled driving Toro home and this game was tied 1-1. The bottom of the eighth inning saw the entrance of Mason Miller on the mound facing Jose Altuve.

Miller did was he does so well, he struck out Altuve for the first out and was looking for more. Miller walked Kyle Tucker on some very close pitches. He has been taking care of some of hottest hitters in the game today. He went on to strike out Yordan Alvaraz and Jeremy Pena and it was on to the ninth inning.

Oakland came up short in the ninth inning unable to score. The inconsistency of the umpire was more than frustrating and was really getting under some of the players skin. Mason Miller would try to force this game into extra innings.

Miller faced another huge Houston threat Alex Bregman and struck him out. A line out and a strike out later and it was off to the tenth inning. In two innings he had struck out five Astros.

Oakland had two runners on base in the tenth inning but failed to score. The A’s Michael Kelly took over on the hill trying to keep Oakland in the game. Victor Caratini singled Cabbage home and this game went to Houston; the Astros won this one in a walk off 2-1. Houston has now won 5 of their last 6 games.

Game notes: Tuesday the Oakland A’s went into game two in their series with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Field in Houston. The Astros took care of business in game one soundly beating Oakland 9-2 in game one of the series thanks to an offensive flurry that included a couple of home runs from Alex Bregman who was unstoppable.

Houston had a very slow start this season but they have sure turned it around the past few games. The way they are playing right now they could very well make their way to the top of the West. Oakland had a lot of trouble handling the Astros offense even though they did have nine hits on Monday night. This was also another game in which Oakland did not clock a single home run. This so far has turned out to be a very tough series for the Oakland A’s who have now dropped the first two games of the series.

The Astros starter Ronel Blanco was ejected by third base umpire Laz Diaz for having a foreign substance in his glove the top of the fourth inning. While the umpires were discussing the foreign substance found in Blanco’s glove Blanco was talking with manager Joe Espada on the mound. It was decided by the umpires that Blanco would be ejected.

The umpires confiscated the glove and first base umpire first base umpire Erich Bacchus said that was the stickiest substance that he’s ever felt on a glove and that he’s been checking gloves for years now. Blanco said it might have been rosin that he might have put on his left arm and sweat and that’s maybe what they’ve found.

This game was a huge disappointment for Oakland having fought so hard and coming so close but just coming up short. They will try to avoid the sweep Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 5:10 PM. Aaron Brooks (0-0 ERA 0.00) will take the mound for the Athletics and Framber Valdez (2-1 ERA 3.64) will be on the hill for Houston.